Pens, Pencils, Markers and Erasers

Having a variety of pens, pencils, and markers is essential to all different scrapbooking projects. Different scrapbooking projects call for different writers. You will basicly need a black pen set, a white pen, utility pens, markers, and colored pens and pencils. White pens are used to write on darker backgrounds to enhance any writing. Utility pens are a versatile set for beginner and veteran scrapbookers. The photo marker can be used to write on the fronts and backs of photos. The pet-eye and red-eye pens are useful for photos where the eyes of pets and people are red or not true to color. The pH tester helps to see if the materials you're using on layouts are acid-free. The vanishing ink is useful to draw doodling lines or guidelines for lettering so you know where to draw or write. Most utility sets include a guide as to what each pen is used for. And of course markers and colored pens and pencils are great for any creative display. You will need a basic white plastic eraser, these are great for any mistakes made with pencil and help to remove excess glue as well.

Scrapbooking Fonts

There are many places that you can get fonts for your project. You can download them off of websites as well as use the ones from any Microsoft Office or Mac program as well. There are also font programs available to buy, which i would recommend over downloading from websites. When downloading, be cautious of where the file is coming from and do research into the security of the site in order to avoid viruses and hackers. There are also stencils available in case you want to use your own creative colors and placement of letters. You can find stencils of designs rather than just letters as well.

Paper Cutters, Scissors, Cutting Mats and Rulers

One of the most important tools in scrapbooking are paper trimmers or cutters. It's essential in keeping edges clean and straight without fraying. It also saves on the time you spend on cutting and trimming. Scissors are important as well. There are many types used for different projects. You will need precision as well as decorative. Decorative scissors can be a lot of fun for borders, pictures and scraps that you may put on your pages. They come in many different designs for any project you may have.
When doing more precise cuts, craft knives and mats are great. A self healing mat are most commonly used in scrapbooking, but any mat would do. X-acto knives are great cutting knives for these particualr projects. As well as finger-tip control knives which allow complete control of the knife.
As for rulers, you will need a 12" metal ruler as well as a see through plastic ruler with a centering feature. The metal rulers are great for ripping along the edges. There are clear rulers with metal edges available as well which would eliminate the need for two rulers.


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Adhesives

Adhesives are very important for any scrapbooker. You should always have some on hand because many projects require different types of adhesives. There are several types of adhesives: vellum tape, removable adhesive, glue dots, tabs, photo squares, permanent adhesive, as well as removable or temporary.
Adhesive removers are also important. There are tools that you can use to eliminate residue from your project without any smudging. Un-du is great for removing adhesive and sticky residue and you can reuse stickers, tape runner, and photo squares. It also removes sticky residue from scissors and punches, which you will find to be very necessary. It's acid free and wont make inks run.

Getting Your Album Ready

First you will need an album, there are several different types including: post-bound, 3-ring binder (notebook), spiral-bound, or other styles in a wide assortment of sizes, designs, and colors. Be sure to choose one that suits your style and taste. In my case I chose the cheapest, plainest one I could find so that I could get started on making pages instead of having any particular theme to it. That way when I decided to put a theme to the pages, I can get a particular album that fits with that theme.
To go with the album you will need page protectors. These help to protect all the hard work you put into your pages and keep them safe through the years. You can ge them for any 12 x 12, 8 x 8, or 6 x 6 inch albums. Just find the ones that best fit your album, and be sure that they are Acid-free, and archival-safe, but most of them are.
Next you will need patterned paper and cardstock. Vellum, Patterned, Mulberry, and Specialty Paper are perfect for your scrapbooking needs. You can find these sheets individually or in packs. Cardstock comes in all different colors and are great for borders around pictures, textures and decorations.

The Essentials to get Started

I know that once you decide to start scrapbooking, going to the scrapbooking section of a store can be overwhelming, and even scary sometimes with how much stuff there is. So here is a list of items that are essential to get you started!

• Album


• Page Protectors


• Paper and Cardstock (patterned paper and cardstock)


• Adhesives (tapes, tabs, liquids)


• Paper Trimmer/cutter


• Scissors (large, small, precision and designs)


• Cutting mat and Craft Knife (X-acto)


• 12" Metal and Clear Ruler (with centering feature if possible)


• Fonts


• White Plastic Eraser


• Pens/Pencils


• Photo Corners


• Stapler and Staples


• Paper Punch/Hole Punch


• Stitching Supplies


• Tote

This list should help you feel less helpless when you try to get started with your project. I will go more into the importance and uses of each item on the list in different posts. Good luck on getting started and have fun creating memories!